Football has made its long-awaited return to Chippewa Intermediate and Secondary School. After a six-year absence, the Ravens are not only back on the gridiron, but they’ve also secured their first win and are set to host a playoff game against Franco-Cité this Friday at 2 p.m.
Ryan McGowan, Chippewa’s offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, has spent years coaching with the North Bay Bulldogs program. For him, helping rebuild Chippewa’s football program from the ground up has been a thrilling challenge.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” McGowan says, reflecting on the season. “The players had a lot to learn, but a few of them played with the Bulldogs over the summer, and that experience was invaluable.”
The team struggled early, but in the final week of the regular season, they pulled off a thrilling 27-23 win over Franco-Cité, who, like Chippewa, was also returning to the junior football scene after a hiatus.
The Ravens had jumped out to a commanding 27-0 lead at halftime, but the Patriotes stormed back with 23 unanswered points in the second half. Still, Chippewa’s defense held firm when it mattered most, preventing Franco from completing the comeback.
“It wasn’t the way we expected it to go,” McGowan admits. “The message at halftime was to keep the pressure on, but we took our foot off the gas. Thankfully, the defense came through when we needed them.”
Dante Frederick was the star of the game, scoring three touchdowns for the Ravens in the first half. As the second half unfolded, Chippewa’s strategy shifted. McGowan explains, “We put it all on the o-line. The goal was to eat up the clock and keep Franco from getting enough time to mount a full comeback. When we gave the ball back to them, they only had 17 seconds left, and our defense stopped them cold.”
The win sparked excitement throughout the community. “I’ve had people come up to me all over town, congratulating us,” McGowan says. “It’s amazing to see how many people are invested in our success.”
That community support has been crucial in reviving the program. McGowan shares that they had 40 players at practice each week, even running out of helmets at the start of training camp. Local teams and schools, including Northern Secondary, which hasn’t had a football team in years, donated equipment to help Chippewa get started.
McGowan’s background as a correctional officer at the North Bay Jail helped him recruit volunteers for the coaching staff. “I realized some of my co-workers had played at high levels, so I asked them to join us,” he says. Some of those volunteers are also Chippewa alumni, bringing a sense of pride and history to the team.
One of those coaches is Alex Dicht, who handles both offensive and defensive line duties. A former West Ferris player from the early 2000s, Dicht says, “It’s been fun to give back to the game I grew up loving. A lot of these kids have never played football before, so it’s been about teaching the basics and growing the program.”
Dicht shares McGowan’s vision for the future. “We want to build something sustainable here, with the hope of eventually creating a senior program. It’s about giving these kids the best chance to succeed, whether that’s here or at the next level in college or university.”
Dicht is particularly proud of the team’s four female athletes, who have been some of the toughest players on the field. Among them is Grade 10 player Mackenzie Clements, who plays nose tackle. “I never played football before and was terrified at first, but I’ve grown to love it,” Clements says. “I’m small, but playing nose tackle is all about charging at people and hitting them. It’s fun.”
Clements is joined by Kali Lueder, Maeve Mailloux, and Quinn O’Donoughue, all of whom have made their mark on the defense. O’Donoughue says, “I started as a wide receiver, but I’ve found my place on defense. There’s nothing like making a big tackle, especially when you’re up against bigger, stronger guys.”
“When the team at Chippewa got announced it just made sense to join,” says Mailloux. “I played safety for a few years and thought I would play safety here as well, but I moved over to corner. I love the running aspect of the game, and I love tackling. I’ve learned a lot playing for Chippewa. This has been a great program and a great experience.”
Lueder, who had experience in the Bulldogs system says, “I played defense before and I was good at it. I tried a few different spots, but this is where I felt most comfortable.” Unfortunately for Lueder, she’ll be missing the playoff game against Franco due to a wrist injury, but says, “I’m really hoping they win. I think they can win and if they do, I’ll likely be able to play in the following game.”
“This playoff game is going to be exciting,” McGowan says, looking ahead. “Franco-Cité is well-coached and improving just like us. We knew we’d be facing them in the playoffs, and winning that last game gave us home field advantage. Hosting a playoff game in our first season back—it’s something special. What more could you ask for?”
